AV-8B Harrier helps improve CNATT training

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training recently received an AV-8B Harrier Maintenance Trainer to be used as a maintenance trainer from the AV-8B Program Office, Program Manager Air 257.

The Aircraft was prepared, delivered, disassembled, and installed inside the CNATT headquarters building with help from several agencies to include Fleet Readiness Center East, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, PMA-257, PMA-205, CNATT Headquarters, and Marine Attack Training Squadron 203.

This extraordinary accomplishment will offer students hands-on-training experience before receiving orders to their first duty stations.

“These students and the future classes will now have a safe and realistic aircraft to help them train for future maintenance evolutions that they will experience in the fleet,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah W. Francis, a course supervisor with CNATT. “The more the students learn prior to transition to the fleet the better maintainer they will become in the future.”

“We are lucky to be the first students to work with this training aircraft.” said Pfc. Jared L. Faulks, a student with CNATT. “We are going to arrive at our first duty station and have a bit more experience than past Marines fresh out of the school house. This will prevail as a way to better the Marine Corps.”

Lt. Col. Paul Melchior, commanding officer of CNATT said this arrival was a dream made true by many dedicated people.

“This project started out as a vision and turned into reality due to the commitment of several organizations thinking creatively to enable valuable hands-on training to be executed at the school,” said Melchior.

“The AV-8B training is now more effective and efficient as the students and instructors can now execute all levels of training beginning in the classroom and ending with practical application on the aircraft all within a few steps of each location.

“Training opportunities like this need to be fully exhausted to improve and sustain the reliability and effectiveness of our weapons platforms now and in the future to allow our maintainers to facilitate affordable readiness to meet global requirements.”